Obamacare is simply unworkable

The cold shivers the morning after will propel Obamacare antagonists to renewed diligence, as you suggest in your editorial, “GOP: Losing the battle, winning the war” (Oct. 17).

The entirety of the Affordable Care Act could have been accomplished incrementally, as originally argued back in 2009, e.g., interstate transportable policies, kids on policies, existing health issues. Reality will, within a few months, convince a lot of voters of the unworkability of the act as it implodes.

The computer glitch evident since Oct. 1 continues to clog the gears of implementation — added to which will be policy cost growth, limited coverage, doctors cutting service, and companies downsizing staff and hours, to cite a few. What remains to be seen is how the pending collapse of Obamacare will influence the midterm 2014 election.

G.R. Worthington

Chula Vista

Glorifying Boehner

I opened the front page of my delivered U-T San Diego Oct. 17 and there is a huge picture of John Boehner with the quote: “We fought the good fight. We just didn’t win.” Knowing the political stance of the U-T I realize this wasn’t mocking the speaker but, rather, your support of the shutdown and debt ceiling crisis.

John Boehner didn’t stand up to the extreme fringe in his party to save his own skin in a lost cause from the beginning. Now look at the economic costs, the human toll, and worldwide embarrassment to the United States. And he’s glorified on your front page! Astonishing journalistic irresponsibility!

Lawrence Heraty

Carlsbad

Questions editorial on GOP ‘victory’

Regarding your editorial “GOP: Losing the battle, winning the war” (Oct. 17): Winning? Really? The GOP just wasted $24 billion in GDP and got nothing but misery for their scant efforts. Running our government and creating jobs is their job. Growth is the answer to our debt/deficits, and growth requires a functioning government.

As for the GOP gains in 2010, Democrats received more than 1 million more votes overall, but thanks to gerrymandering the GOP picked up seats. The lion’s share of this recent spike in debt came from trillions in unfunded wars and giveaways to the rich in the form of tax cuts and tax vacations and an economic emergency that required massive amounts of cash to stave off another Great Depression.

You did accurately point out that the federal deficit has been cut in half since Obama put out the Bush fires. Those who ignore real non-bubble history (actual chronological events) are doomed to repeat it.

Nathan Wesley

Solana Beach

Union wage-earners make better workers

Your article, “Prevailing wage law could raise costs” (Oct. 15) leads readers to believe that the fiscal sky is falling for cities because SB 7 requires them to comply with state prevailing wage law on public works projects.

Prevailing wage contractors employ a more skilled and efficient workforce, which acts to offset higher hourly wage rates. The lowest cost firms are seldom the best bargain in the end, as Oceanside found out with its delayed Harbor Aquatic Center.